12 months after 12 months, freeskiing’s greatest arrives in Kläppen, Sweden, for Kimbo Periods. Throughout sun-soaked spring days and glittering evenings, they throw down on a custom-built terrain park. The crew isn’t there for podiums or huge prize purses—it’s all about gathering and sharing a love for the game. The outcomes, which, at instances, appear to defy gravity and physics, converse for themselves. None of this boundary-pushing motion can be attainable with out Kim Boberg, Kimbo Periods’ tireless chief and organizer.
Picture: Daniel Rönnbäck
If Kimbo Periods encapsulated all of Kim’s contributions to freeskiing, he’d already be a member of the game’s higher echelon. However he’s excess of a talented and gracious occasion host. Within the streets and backcountry, Kim has championed a singular model of hard-charging snowboarding and appeared in quite a few notable movies, together with Is There Time For Matching Socks and CHAMELEON. For 16 years, he’s been a staple of the storied Armada Skis staff, standing alongside family names like Maude Raymond and Tanner Corridor.But, regardless of his outsized function in freeski tradition, Kim hasn’t gotten the pro-model therapy—till now. This 12 months, the Armada is rolling out the aptly named Kimbo as part of its Zero Assortment.
The Kimbo options squared-off tails—throwback-style—and a comparatively tight flip radius, making a silhouette that barely resembles traditional on-piste carvers. That parallel flies out the window while you watch Kim use the ski, although, which, below his expert toes, could be bent into deep butters or thrown in opposition to handrails within the streets. Whereas we haven’t tried the ski ourselves, it appears to seize the whole lot that’s distinctive about Kim, distilling it right into a bodily merchandise the general public can take pleasure in—and use to inform their very own tales on the slopes.To study extra concerning the ski and its promo video, we despatched Kim an electronic mail.
How did the video promo for the Kimbo come about? I am into the funny-slash-whimsical vibe.Haha, it was an concept that popped up in my thoughts late one evening, virtually like a dream the place nothing actually made sense. A magical Armada forest with all of the rad skis I’ve had the prospect to trip, bizarre creatures, skis coming down from the sky, form of.. I wished to make one thing actually random, one thing that didn’t really feel stale like some other industrial, and hopefully make somebody snicker, . I used to do random skits again within the day, and it felt good to carry it again, haha. Corey Stanton got here to my spot late this summer time and made the thought come to actuality, nice instances.
Maybe extra importantly—Kim, what are you able to inform us concerning the creation of the Kimbo? The concept of the ski took place 3-4 years in the past. I rode the Armada Stranger rather a lot, and the best way that ski made you’re feeling and switch was simply what I had all the time dreamt about with out actually realizing it. I wished that really feel of the flip however in a ski that might deal with the park. Totally different flex, lighter, totally wrapped edge. I wished this ski to be the whole lot! To carry one ski to the resort and realizing it could be nice regardless of if I used to be hitting the large jumps, rails or simply carving within the slopes with the fam. I would like park snowboarding to incorporate loads of snowboarding, not simply the traditional straight line-jump-straight line-rail kinda factor; I would like it to be in all places, discovering new strains each run. Engaged on this with Calvin at Armada was the most effective expertise. Received the primary prototypes final fall, 4 totally different ones, with out realizing what totally different attributes they’d. The imaginative and prescient of how I wished this to really feel was clearer than any imaginative and prescient I’ve ever had, and after testing the primary 3, it felt like this ski was by no means gonna be completed. However the 4th proto was it; I felt it straight away; it had all of the issues I wished: gentle, fast turns, noses that had been simple to get into on butters and presses, and tails that had been barely stiffer to offer that further stability on massive jumps. Such a enjoyable course of to get to the ultimate one and it is the one ski I rode all final season, park and road mounted -2cm from true heart.
Picture: Daniel Rönnbäck
What prompted the choice to go along with a squared-off tail on the Kimbo?I wished this ski to have a directional and old-school look however with a contemporary new really feel to it. To pay homage to the Ogs/creators of freeskiing the place they, again within the days, used to take their common alpine skis and bend up the tails to have the ability to go change. And you’ll’t miss your blunts with the sq. tail. It is the right blunt grabbing ski, and it additionally offers you nice grip whereas leaning again into your tail drags.
Lastly, what sort of skier would have probably the most enjoyable with the Kimbo? Do you must be into jibbing, or are this stuff enjoyable wherever you are taking them?They’re enjoyable wherever you are taking them! I consider this ski suits most individuals whether or not you’re a younger park skier on the lookout for one thing contemporary, fascinating with an aggressive however but playful really feel to it, or in case you are an older man with extra days within the piste then the park. However actually in case you are simply on the lookout for a very good versatile ski, park or not, that is it!
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